Entries by Karen O'Neill

Blood pressure refers to the amount of work that our heart has to do to pump blood around the body. It measures how strongly blood presses against the walls of your arteries (large blood vessels) during this process. If this pressure is too high it puts a strain on your arteries and your heart, which […]

As it’s Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, we try to explain in simple terms a little more about cervical cancer, the symptoms and causes. From the outset, it’s important to emphasise that there is no 100% effective method to prevent cervical cancer and therefore it is crucial that women continue to have regular cervical smear tests. […]

An exciting societal shift is taking place in relation to how we look after our health and well-being. Increasingly, we have people coming into our pharmacies to seek advice about minor ailments and treatment options from our healthcare experts. Last Thursday, 25th January, saw the launch of the #SelfCare initiative organised by the Irish Pharmacy […]

Scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by a parasitic mite called Sarcoptes scabiei that burrows into your skin. It is highly contagious and can easily be passed from one person to another through direct skin contact or infested clothing or bedding. Outbreaks often occur in confined environments such as schools, sports locker rooms, prisons […]

January can be tough! Not only are we suffering the come down after the festive season, we are all generally trying to improve our health and well-being – which can sometimes feel like deprivation or punishment. The good news is, it doesn’t have to feel this way. At your local Haven Pharmacy, you have access […]

Getting your flu vaccine, is now more convenient than ever before. Ever chat with your friends about the flu vaccine? Do you all get it? If not, why? In January 2017, the Health Service Executive issued a statement indicating that uptake on the vaccine was “nowhere near” where it ought to be. Why do you […]

Have you tried to give up smoking in the past? Have you managed to give up for long periods of time and then one little slip spiraled you back to your former full-time smoking self? Has the disappointment in returning to this bad habit put you off trying to quit again? DON’T LET IT! … […]

Cystitis is a common lower urinary tract infection (UTI). It is inflammation of the bladder or urethra and is more common in women than men. It is usually mild and resolves within 5 to 7 days without treatment with antibiotics. Cystitis can be extremely painful and uncomfortable, therefore our pharmacists would highly recommend that actions are […]